German POWs in Texas

From the Dec. 14, 2009, Palestine (Tx) Herald Press.

The public library was hosting a traveling exhibit "Held in the Homefront: POWs in the U.S. 1943-1946." This is a follow up to the "Vanished: German-American Civilian Internment 1941-1948."

During the war, 425,000 German, Italian and Japanese POWs were imprisoned in the U.S. at 660 base and branch camps.

Texas had 78 camps, many located in the eastern part. Millions more were held in other camps around the world. Obviously, not many were Japanese who often elected suicide before surrender or to fight to the death.

The U.S. Army ran the camps in the U.S. where 372,000 Germans were held. During the day, most would leave the camp to harvest and process crops, build roads and waterways, fell trees, roof barns, erect silos, work in light non-military industries, lay sewers, construct tract housing and wash U.S. Army laundry among other jobs.

They felt at home also because many Americans were of German descent and had come over between the 1850s to World War Ii and could speak German. Friendships were formed (many romantic) and many even emigrated to the U.S. after the war. Some even dated local girls and sneaked out to bars and saw movies.

All in All, It Was better to Be a German POW in the U.S. Than an American One in Germany. --GreGen